Kabatay Lake, Ontario: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Kabatay Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. Elevation runs to 463 metres. At some 3.44 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. At about 19 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Size puts it in the front rank of our Thunder Bay District list. Atikokan is the closest place, 63 km off. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 116 km away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Kabatay Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The shape of Kabatay Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -17°C in January up to 18°C in July. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. On Kabatay Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Huronian Lake sits 4 km off and takes the overflow. Signs at Kabatay Lake carry more weight than any list.